Singapore Chinese Orchestra to stage its largest ever concert – Our People, Our Music 2014 at newly built National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub

SCO aims to enroll 4,000 participants for record-breaking feat in June 2014

Singapore, 17 October 2013 (Thursday) – On 28 June 2014, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will stage its biggest ever show, a 4,000-member concert, Our People Our Music 2014, as part of the opening celebrations for the newly-built National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub.

After successfully staging the inaugural 2,400-member orchestral concert Our People, Our Music in 2004, the highly anticipated Our People, Our Music 2014 concert will showcase a wide-ranging repertoire of classical and contemporary compositions. Themed “Our Home, Singapore!” and choreographed by SCO’s Music Director, Tsung Yeh, the concert programme is made up of pieces that represent “Nostalgia”, “Dream”, “Drive”, “Future”, “Energy” and “PossibiCity” to showcase the passion and best wishes of the people for Singapore. Through this event, SCO aspires to strengthen awareness and appreciation of Chinese culture among fellow Singaporeans through music and also to sustain participants’ interest in Chinese arts and culture while reaching out to new audiences.

With this mega-concert, SCO will attempt to break the Guinness World Records and Singapore Book of Records for the largest erhu ensemble and the largest Chinese drum ensemble. SCO will also attempt to break the Singapore Book of Records for the largest Chinese orchestra.

SCO is encouraging Chinese orchestra groups in Singapore to participate in this mega event. The call is going out to professional and amateur Chinese orchestral players as well as choir members who will comprise the chorus. Interested parties may visit www.opom.sg for participation details and criteria.

SCO General Manager, Terence Ho said, “Compared to its regional neighbours, Singapore has the highest ratio of number of Chinese orchestras to its population – there are currently almost 200 Chinese orchestras in Singapore, each with a membership of between 40 to 120 musicians. Through the OPOM concert, SCO creates a platform for Chinese orchestra musicians from all schools, clan associations, community clubs and organisations in Singapore to come together to display their talents and make music together as a big Chinese music community.”

This will also be the first arts and cultural performance to christen the newly-built National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub, and SCO Patron, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will grace this momentous event as the Guest-of-Honour. SCO hopes to attract 30,000 audiences. Tickets will be available at Sports Hub Tix from January 2014.

Philippe Collin Delavaud, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Sports Hub expressed his enthusiasm for this upcoming orchestral, record breaking event, “We are proud to host and play a part in this magnificent national arts performance. This will be an exciting milestone for the National Stadium, which I’m sure will be the first of many more to come.”

Our People Our Music 2014 is organized by SCO and supported by the National Arts Council, Singapore Sports Council, Singapore Sports Hub, Ministry of Education and PAssion Arts.

Our People Our Music 2004 Music Director: Tsung Yeh

About the Singapore Chinese Orchestra

Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1997, the 82-musician orchestra took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and culture and establishing new frontiers through the incorporation of Nanyang music elements in its repertoire. SCO has impressed a broadening audience with its blockbuster presentations and is fast establishing itself among its counterparts around the world. Known for its high performance standards and versatility, the SCO is recognized through invitations to perform at numerous prestigious events locally and internationally. In line with its vision to be a world-renowned people’s orchestra, SCO continues to inspire, educate and communicate through its music.

About Singapore Sports Hub

The Singapore Sports Hub will be Singapore’s premier sports, entertainment and lifestyle hub with integrated community programming.

Consisting of a unique cluster development of integrated world-class sports facilities within the city, it will play a critical role in accelerating the development of sports industry, excellence and participation, and will take sports to the next level in Singapore.

Located on a 35-hectare site in Kallang, the Singapore Sports Hub will include the following facilities:

A new 55,000-capacity National Stadium with a retractable roof and movable tiered seating

A 6,000-capacity indoor Aquatic Centre that meets FINA standards

A 3,000-capacity Sports Halls which will be scalable and flexible in layout

The Singapore Sports Hub, which is managed by SportsHub Pte Ltd, is one of the largest sporting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project in the world. It is also Singapore’s largest flagship PPP project of this nature, and has won the PFI award in London in 2011 and the World Architecture Festival Award for Best Future Project in the leisure-led development category in 2013.